U.S. Constitution
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A U.S. Constitution is a national constitution for the United States.
- Context:
- It can include U.S. Constitution Amendments.
- It can establish the three branches of the United States Federal Government—the legislative, executive, and judicial—under the principle of Separation of Powers.
- It can serve as the supreme law of the United States, meaning all other laws and actions by the federal or state governments must comply with its provisions.
- It can embody the concept of federalism, defining the distribution of powers between the federal government and the U.S. states.
- It can provide for a process of judicial review by which courts interpret the Constitution and its amendments.
- ...
- Example(s):
- U.S. Constitution, 1789, which originally included the main body of the Constitution, establishing the government structure and key principles of federalism and separation of powers.
- U.S. Constitution, 1791, which included the Bill of Rights, the first ten amendments protecting individual liberties such as freedom of speech, freedom of religion, and the right to a fair trial.
- U.S. Constitution, 1865-1870, which included the Reconstruction Amendments—the 13th Amendment abolishing slavery, the 14th Amendment providing equal protection and due process, and the 15th Amendment guaranteeing voting rights regardless of race.
- U.S. Constitution, 1913, which included the 16th Amendment allowing a federal income tax and the 17th Amendment establishing the direct election of U.S. Senators.
- U.S. Constitution, 1920, which included the 19th Amendment, granting women's suffrage and significantly expanding voting rights.
- U.S. Constitution, 1933, which included the 21st Amendment, repealing the 18th Amendment and ending the Prohibition of alcohol.
- U.S. Constitution, 1951, which included the 22nd Amendment, limiting the President to two terms in office.
- U.S. Constitution, 1964, which included the 24th Amendment, abolishing poll taxes in federal elections, further expanding voting rights.
- U.S. Constitution, 1967, which included the 25th Amendment, clarifying the presidential succession process and procedures for addressing presidential disability.
- U.S. Constitution, 1971, which included the 26th Amendment, lowering the voting age to 18.
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- Counter-Example(s):
- American Declaration of Independence, which declared the American colonies' independence from Britain but did not establish a government structure.
- Articles of Confederation, the predecessor to the U.S. Constitution, which created a loose confederation of states with limited federal authority.
- Canadian Constitution, which governs Canada and includes unique foundational principles and structures.
- U.S. Federal Statutes, which are laws enacted by Congress but must comply with the Constitution and do not amend it.
- Presidential Executive Orders, which direct government operations but cannot override the Constitution or amend it.
- See: Supremacy Clause, Separation of Powers, United States Federal Government, United States Congress, Bicameralism, United States Executive, United States Judiciary.
References
2014
- (Wikipedia, 2014) ⇒ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Constitution Retrieved:2014-10-18.
- The Constitution of the United States is the supreme law of the United States of America. The Constitution, originally comprising seven articles, delineates the national frame of government. Its first three articles entrench the doctrine of the separation of powers, whereby the federal government is divided into three branches: the legislative, consisting of the bicameral Congress; the executive, consisting of the President; and the judicial, consisting of the Supreme Court and other federal courts. Articles Four, Five and Six entrench concepts of federalism, describing the rights and responsibilities of state governments and of the states in relationship to the federal government. Article Seven establishes the procedure subsequently used by the thirteen States to ratify it. Since the Constitution came into force in 1789, it has been amended twenty-seven times. In general, the first ten amendments, known collectively as the Bill of Rights, offer specific protections of individual liberty and justice and place restrictions on the powers of government. The majority of the seventeen later amendments expand individual civil rights. Others address issues related to federal authority or modify government processes and procedures. Amendments to the US Constitution, unlike ones made to many constitutions world-wide, are appended to the end of the document. At seven articles and twenty-seven amendments, it is the shortest written constitution in force.
The Constitution is interpreted, supplemented, and implemented by a large body of constitutional law. The Constitution of the United States was the first constitution of its kind, and has influenced the constitutions of other nations.
- The Constitution of the United States is the supreme law of the United States of America. The Constitution, originally comprising seven articles, delineates the national frame of government. Its first three articles entrench the doctrine of the separation of powers, whereby the federal government is divided into three branches: the legislative, consisting of the bicameral Congress; the executive, consisting of the President; and the judicial, consisting of the Supreme Court and other federal courts. Articles Four, Five and Six entrench concepts of federalism, describing the rights and responsibilities of state governments and of the states in relationship to the federal government. Article Seven establishes the procedure subsequently used by the thirteen States to ratify it. Since the Constitution came into force in 1789, it has been amended twenty-seven times. In general, the first ten amendments, known collectively as the Bill of Rights, offer specific protections of individual liberty and justice and place restrictions on the powers of government. The majority of the seventeen later amendments expand individual civil rights. Others address issues related to federal authority or modify government processes and procedures. Amendments to the US Constitution, unlike ones made to many constitutions world-wide, are appended to the end of the document. At seven articles and twenty-seven amendments, it is the shortest written constitution in force.